The Chairman of Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi state, Hussaini Aliyu, has dismissed a claim credited to U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore alleging that the abduction of the Maga school girls took place in a Christian enclave.

Aliyu clarified that all the abducted school girls are Muslims, describing the comment as misleading and capable of sowing unnecessary religious tension at a time when government efforts are focused on securing the girls’ release.

He stressed that the Zuru Emirate, under which Maga community falls, has a long history of peaceful coexistence and has never experienced religious crises. He therefore urged the U.S. lawmaker to refrain from making unverified statements that portray Nigeria negatively or undermine national unity.

Released names are as follows:

Senior Secondary School 2A
1. Fatima Sani Zimri
2. ⁠Hafsat Ibrahim
3. ⁠Nana Firdausi Jibril
4. ⁠Masauda Yakubu Romo

Senior Secondary School 2B
5. Hauwa Saleh
6. Hauwa’u Umar Imam

Senior Secondary School 3A & 3B
7. Salima Garba Umar
8. Salima Sani Zimri
9. Amina G. Umar
10. Rashida Muhammad Dingu
11. Saliha Umar
12. Aisha Usman
13. Jamila Iliyasu
14. Maryam Illiyasu
15. Najaatu Abdullahi
16. Zainab Kolo

Junior Secondary School 3A
17. Surraya Tukur
18. Hafsat Umar Yalmo
19. Maryam Usman
20. Amina Illiyasu
21. Ikilima Suleman

Junior Secondary School
22. Khadija Nazifi
23. Hauwa’u Iliyasu
24. Hauwa’u Lawali
25. Ummu Kulsum Abdulkarim